Marcus West

Last updated
Marcus West
Buffalo Bills
Position:Defensive line coach
Personal information
Born: (1983-11-06) November 6, 1983 (age 40)
Amory, Mississippi
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:280 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school: Columbus (MS)
College: Memphis
Undrafted: 2006
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Wartburg (2008)
    Defensive line coach
  • Chattanooga (2009–2015)
    Defensive line coach
  • Austin Peay (2016–2017)
    Assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach
  • Minnesota (2018)
    Defensive line pass rush specialist
  • Charlotte (2019–2021)
    Assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach
  • Buffalo Bills (20222023)
    Assistant defensive line coach
  • Buffalo Bills (2024–present)
    Defensive line coach
Career CFL statistics
Games played:5
Total tackles:5

Marcus West (born November 6, 1983) is an American football coach and former defensive lineman who is the defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to being hired by the Bills as the assistant defensive line coach, he was the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He played for the Indianapolis Colts, Amsterdam Admirals, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats before getting into coaching. He was promoted to defensive line coach of the Bills ahead of the 2024 season, following Eric Washington’s departure to become the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

Contents

Coaching career

West began his coaching career at Wartburg College as a defensive line coach before going on to Chattanooga as a defensive line coach. He joined the coaching staff of fellow Chattanooga assistant Will Healy at Austin Peay in 2016 as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. [1]

Minnesota

West was added to the coaching staff at Minnesota in 2018 as a defensive line pass rush specialist. [2]

Charlotte

West joined Healy's inaugural staff at Charlotte in 2019 as his assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator. [3]

Buffalo Bills

On February 24, 2022, the Buffalo Bills hired West as their assistant defensive line coach, [4] replacing Jacques Cesaire, who left to become the defensive line coach for the Houston Texans. [5] On February 2, 2024, he was promoted to defensive line coach. [6]

Personal life

West is married to the former Nikki Blassingame, an assistant on the Chattanooga women's basketball staff who he met while coaching there. [7] Nikki is currently an assistant coach at NC State after spending one season at Charlotte. [8]

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References

  1. "West announced as co-DC and defensive line coach". Austin Peay State University Athletics. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. "Marcus West in, Bryce Paup reportedly out as Gophers football coaching changes continue". Star Tribune. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. "Marcus West joins Charlotte 49ers staff as assistant head coach". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. "Bills announce 10 moves on their coaching staff". BuffaloBills.com.
  5. "Houston Texans announce 2022 coaching staff". Texans.com.
  6. "Bills name Al Holcomb as linebackers coach Marcus West aa defensive line coach". BuffaloBills.com.
  7. "APSU assistant's marriage works with wife coaching in N.C." The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  8. "Women's Basketball Assistant West Returns to Wolfpack". Sports Illustrated. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.